Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kifeas]

Openings closed one after another?



Cengiz Aktar
18.04.2009

http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=11457365

"Turkey has foreign policy positions that recall trenches in battlefields. These positions, established after the creation of the republic, are considered solutions to problems inherited from the Ottoman state. These are the positions with regard the Armenian and Kurdish questions and the Greek dossier, always on the agenda due to the unresolved Cyprus conflict. There have been no significant changes in any of these three policies since 1923.

On the Armenian position, expectations rose high after the visit President Abdullah Gül to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, and secret bilateral talks held in Geneva since August 2007. The expectation has peaked due to the visit of U.S. President Obama and the upcoming April 24 commemoration day. But, at least for now, Turkey’s border with Armenia remains closed. This time we heard from Prime Minister Erdoğan himself that he doesn’t lean on the package designed by diplomats of the two countries. His remarks Ğ "We cannot seal any deal that would hurt Azerbaijan" Ğ helped close this case. And now we even have a Web site on this approach: www.turkiye-ermenistan-kapilar-acilmasin.org (let’s not open the doors with Armenia).

Things way over our heads
It is extremely difficult for Turkey to resolve the Armenian issue through the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Moreover, it is Turkey who, by closing unilaterally its border with Armenia in 1993 to show solidarity with Azerbaijan, has tied its hands for any bilateral deal with Armenia. This time, Azerbaijan, despite being constantly informed about the course of Turkish-Armenian talks, is enraged and this is probably nurtured by Russia. I didn’t say "Russia can remove Turkey from the Caucasus equation easily" for nothing. So can Iran. Iran having excellent relations with Armenia has no problem with Azerbaijan either.

Apparently, the Karabakh issue is more than Turkey can handle. Russia keeps Azerbaijan and Armenia in its hands and laps because of the Karabakh conflict and doesn’t want any durable solution. Armenia clearly depends on Russia: military and strategic relations, patrolling of the Turkish border, handsome Russian military bases, and a strong support in energy supply and in the Karabakh feud. Alright!

But in this case, where does this Russian love of Azerbaijan come from, as Azerbaijanis are supposed to seek alliances against the Armenian-Russia axis? What makes Azerbaijanis dependent on Russia? None of the reasons that are valid in the Armenia-Russia partnership can explain Azerbaijan’s dependency on Russia. The main factor leaving Azerbaijan in the Russian sphere of influence is the authoritarian and antidemocratic regime inherited from the Soviets.

Just like the case in Armenia, by the way. But in fact Azerbaijan’s democratic evolution could bring alone a solution to the Karabakh conflict. In a referendum to be held in Karabakh, democratic guarantees for Karabakh Armenians, provided by Azerbaijan, would bring a solution. But for now, it is impossible for the Azerbaijani authoritarian regime to go through such an evolution. Therefore, its Armenian policy is limited with a tactless approach of "Armenians are poor, but I have oil. I will wait until they are exhausted and take Karabakh back in the end." Turkey has made itself hostage of this policy closing the Turkish side of the Armenian border in 1993.

The Cyprus stalemate, as one of our antique foreign policy positions, will be on the agenda over the weekend. Parties defending "no solution is the solution" may win the April 19 elections in Turkish Cyprus. As a result, settlement talks with Greek Cypriots may once again go to the wall although they were going well despite all odds. With no solution at sight, Turkey may continue to lose time and money in Cyprus as a result of nationalist ambitions in a way to confirm the remarks of British Foreign Secretary James Callahan, who said in the aftermath of the 1974 military intervention that "your army captured the island but in time the island would capture your soldiers." And the fate of Kurdish overture and talks going on with the Kurdistan Regional Administration in northern Iraq may look like that of Turkey’s Armenian and Greek overtures.

It is not painless to clear the past mistakes. Adding clumsiness and nationalist rhetoric on top creates new deadlocks at all fronts. And Turkey continues to pay an arm and leg for its nationalist obsessions. "

[YFred]

I knew the Turkish army was not at fault, you captured them, let them go!

[miltiades]

James Callaghan was never a great Prime Minister or Foreign secretary for that matter as he then was in 1974 but was correct in his statement concerning the Turkish army in Cyprus.
It looks as if the current round of negotiations are not as encouraging as they were initially thought of more so since the "election " won by the settlers.
Recognition of the "trnc" is the ultimate goal of Turkey , the chances of that are the same as Istanbul reverting back to its original name . It simply will not happen , the International world and in particular the UN and the EU
would never sanction the legality of a regime established by the occupying power , it would be tantamount to recognising the legality of the German occupation of most of Europe in the 40s.
The Turkish troops are not seen by the world as an integral part of the "trnc" but as an occupying foreign force. This is the stark reality and the sooner Turkey abandons her expansionist ideas the sooner her occupying army will be "liberated "
The RoC has an obligation to our T/C compatriots to let them know clearly that they are citizens of the RoC , equal citizens with the same rights as every other citizen .
Efforts of enlightenment ought to replace virulent anti T/C actions such as the insistence of retaining a foreign anthem and many other similar activities.

[EPSILON]

James Callaghan was never a great Prime Minister or Foreign secretary for that matter as he then was in 1974 but was correct in his statement concerning the Turkish army in Cyprus.
It looks as if the current round of negotiations are not as encouraging as they were initially thought of more so since the "election " won by the settlers.
Recognition of the "trnc" is the ultimate goal of Turkey , the chances of that are the same as Istanbul reverting back to its original name . It simply will not happen , the International world and in particular the UN and the EU
would never sanction the legality of a regime established by the occupying power , it would be tantamount to recognising the legality of the German occupation of most of Europe in the 40s.
The Turkish troops are not seen by the world as an integral part of the "trnc" but as an occupying foreign force. This is the stark reality and the sooner Turkey abandons her expansionist ideas the sooner her occupying army will be "liberated "
The RoC has an obligation to our T/C compatriots to let them know clearly that they are citizens of the RoC , equal citizens with the same rights as every other citizen .
Efforts of enlightenment ought to replace virulent anti T/C actions such as the insistence of retaining a foreign anthem and many other similar activities.

And in addition do not forget. Turkish army came in Cyprus to protect T/cs.Finally they sent the majority of them to UK for better life.They are clearly interested about T/cs and they are doing all possible to prove this.

[Viewpoint]

James Callaghan was never a great Prime Minister or Foreign secretary for that matter as he then was in 1974 but was correct in his statement concerning the Turkish army in Cyprus.
It looks as if the current round of negotiations are not as encouraging as they were initially thought of more so since the "election " won by the settlers.
Recognition of the "trnc" is the ultimate goal of Turkey , the chances of that are the same as Istanbul reverting back to its original name . It simply will not happen , the International world and in particular the UN and the EU
would never sanction the legality of a regime established by the occupying power , it would be tantamount to recognising the legality of the German occupation of most of Europe in the 40s.
The Turkish troops are not seen by the world as an integral part of the "trnc" but as an occupying foreign force. This is the stark reality and the sooner Turkey abandons her expansionist ideas the sooner her occupying army will be "liberated "
The RoC has an obligation to our T/C compatriots to let them know clearly that they are citizens of the RoC , equal citizens with the same rights as every other citizen .
Efforts of enlightenment ought to replace virulent anti T/C actions such as the insistence of retaining a foreign anthem and many other similar activities.

The intervention/invasion was to initially save the TCs being wiped out, act as a deterrant and to restore TC rights..once this is achieved they will leave. Have we resolved our differencies? NO so they will be around for a long time to come.